West Coast Premier of “Tribes” Runs Through April 14

 

PHOTO BY CRAIG SCHWARTZ "Tribes" at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum through April 14, 2013..

The West Coast premiere of “Tribes” is running at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum through April 14.

The Barrow Street Theatre production of Nina Raine’s penetrating new comic drama about belonging, family and the value of communication follows Billy, the youngest son of a raucous family of intellectuals obsessed with self expression. As his parents and siblings verbally spar and compete for attention, Billy, who is deaf, catches what he can by lip-reading.

When Billy meets Sylvia, a young woman who is an expert at sign language and is losing her hearing, he asks her to teach him how to sign, and for the first time, he is introduced to the deaf community. Billy’s life is transformed when this new world is unveiled to him. But when a new door opens, does another have to be closed?

The Center Theatre Group, L.A.’s Theatre Company at the Mark Taper Forum is located at 601 West Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. For more information: (213) 97-7376; CenterTheatreGroup.org